Particularism

Particularism is evident in the number and variety of spirits recognized and in the peculiar scope attributed to each. The pre-Christian Sami of Scandinavia have sometimes been called fetishists because they propitiated nature spirits as well as personally named gods and demons. The nature spirits were generally benevolent and always localized. They could be addressed in particular objects, such as stones or posts, which the Sami would set up in likely places. The few personally venerated spirits (or gods) were identified with thunder, sun, moon, hunting, childbirth, and the winds. Evil spirits might be incarnate in animal or monstrous ... (100 of 3,888 words)